Our Weekend in Catalonia: Stones, Spires, and Sketchbooks

We just got back from a whirlwind weekend through Catalonia. Instead of sticking to one spot, we bounced between the inland chill of Vic, the cinematic streets of Girona, and a quick art-focused dash through Barcelona. It was a lot of ground to cover, but the contrast between the medieval silence and the urban buzz was exactly what we needed.

First: Getting Lost in Vic

We started in Vic, which felt like the perfect palate cleanser. The Old City is heavy with history—everything is built from that beautiful, weathered stone. We spent a good chunk of time in the Cathedral, which is a bit of an architectural puzzle, but the Romanesque bell tower is the real standout. We also ducked into the Medieval Museum (MEV). We’re not usually the type to spend hours in galleries, but the Romanesque collection there is incredible. There’s something haunting about seeing altar pieces from the 1100s that are still so vivid.

After: The Heights of Girona

By the morning, we were in Girona. We headed straight for the walls (Muralla). Walking along the top of the city gives you a perspective you just can't get from the ground—you can see the Pyrenees off in the distance and the cathedral’s massive nave looming over the rooftops. We spent the rest of the light wandering through El Call, the Jewish Quarter. The alleys are so narrow that the sky is just a sliver above you. We eventually ended up by the Onyar River, watching the sunset hit those famous colorful houses.

The grand finale: A Barcelona Art Sprint

Since we’ve been to Barcelona plenty of times, we kept it strictly about the museums. At the Picasso Museum in the El Born district, it was wild to see how 'normal' his art looked before he went full Cubist. We finished the day at MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art). The building itself is a giant white block of glass and light, which was a massive contrast to the dark stone alleys we'd been walking in Vic and Girona.